New Year's Eve killing was self-defense, attorney says

SANTA ANA – Calling a New Year's Eve fatal stabbing outside a Costa Mesa hotel a "glorified bar fight that went horribly wrong," a defense attorney argued to an Orange County jury Monday that a man charged with murder acted in self-defense.

Adam Randy Baker, 23, of Dana Point was having a good time at a party and did a "dopey thing, a rude thing" when he flicked a cigarette at the crowd leaving the Hilton, "but he didn't do it to start a fight," Baker's attorney, Gary Pohlson, said.

Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy told jurors in Superior Court Judge Francisco BriseÃ±o's courtroom that Baker needs to be held accountable for his actions in the early-morning hours of Jan. 1, 2011.

The defendant cursed at, shoved and stabbed Robert Sickles, a 27-year-old Air Force veteran and Mission Viejo resident, whom the prosecutor said did nothing to provoke Baker.

After Sickles said, "Dude, relax," Baker escalated the confrontation by pushing, then slashing and fatally stabbing Sickles in the chest, Murphy said. When Sickles' friend Brian McTiegue tried to intervene, he was stabbed in the back, Murphy said.

Pohlson argued it was unclear who threw the first punch, but Sickles, a serviceman trained in combat, was "pounding" Baker, who later turned and ran before Sickles and his friends "pummeled" him.

"This fight would have been over if it was up to Mr. Baker," the defense lawyer argued. "This is as clear a self-defense situation as you can imagine."

It was hardly that, countered Murphy.

Baker took a knife to the party to "protect his ego" in case he got into a fight and then picked a fight for no reason, he said.

"He won the fight," Murphy said.

Then, looking momentarily at the defendant, the prosecutor added, "Congratulations."

"Who starts the fight matters," said Murphy.

Baker then resorted to deadly force in a fistfight, the prosecutor contended.

"You have to communicate to opponents in self-defense that you don't want to fight," he said. The defense argued Baker did just that by running away, which the prosecution said occurred well after the stabbings.

Baker is charged with murder, attempted murder and use of a knife. He faces a maximum prison term of 23 years to life in prison if convicted of second-degree murder.